Derby Gorse. 87 



Toad, about a mile below the village, then straight for 

 Deerfold, almost reaching the top ; but, being beaten, 

 he turned down across the Wigmore Eoad, and into 

 Gisburne's Wood. We viewed him as he entered the 

 wood, and saw that he had no more go in him. The 

 hounds drove him down to the back of old G's house, 

 and killed him in the shrubbery. I was pretty delighted 

 to see the end, as it loas the finest run I ever saw. He 

 was a three-year old dog fox, very large, and no tag. 

 His point no doubt was Wigmore Kolls, just a mile 

 or two beyond where he turned down from Deerfold. 

 Distance ten miles straight, and fourteen to sixteen as 

 we ran. Time one hour and iifteen minutes, with only 

 one check. The hounds went splendidly in this trying 

 run, though at times through awkward ground they got 

 a little separated, but soon got together again. Bar- 

 maid, Duster, Druid, and Baffler, were in front a great 

 part of the run. Also Warlike at the beginning. Old 

 hounds, Barrister especially, and Bowman, Hannibal, 

 and Harold, not in it." 



Beckford says : ** You ask at what time you should 

 leave off hunting ? It is a question which I know not 

 how to answer, as it depends as much on the quantity of 

 game that you have, as on the counties that you hunt. 

 However, in my opinion, no good country should be 

 hunted after February. Nor should there be any hunting 

 at all after March. Spring hunting is sad destruction 

 of foxes. In one week you may destroy as many as 

 would have shown you sport for a whole season. 



How long do you intend hunting ? is a question often 

 put to a master of the hounds. — Mr. Vyner's answer was 

 ** As long as the peas and beans will allow us." '' 'Ware 

 wheat " in his opinion is a delusion. Old Ralph Lambton 

 once late in a season broke up a fox in a wheat field, 

 after a very good run, and was so ashamed of himself 

 afterwards, that he sent the farmer a cheque for £10. 

 When the harvest came round, he w^as astonished at 

 having the money returned to him by the honest farmer, 

 and being told by him that he had the best crop he ever 

 saw on this field, That story has run through Yorkshire 

 until it is a household word, and you seldom hear, 

 -'* 'Ware wheat " there. 



